Electric decorticator



A. A. PIEPJOHN ELECTRIC DECORTICA'IOR Jana 22) Fild July 27, 1923 ,2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 22, 1924. 1,481,390

A. A. PIEPJOHN Y Y ELECTRIC DECORTICATOR Filed July 27. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 22, 1924.

ABTHUIR- A. PIEPJOHN,

or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC DECORTICATOR.

Application filed July 27, 1923. Serial No. 654,155.

To all whom it concern:

1 Be it known that I, ARTHUR A. PIEPJOHN,

in electrically operated machines or appa ratus for removing by agitation and abrasive action the peel, skins, or cortex of vegetables, fruit and the like, and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement and combination of the various parts thereof as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed. 1

While the principal object of the invention is the provision of an electric agitator or vibrator combined with other elements of the device, whereby a potato peeler, or armachine for the quick peeling or removal of the skins of potatoes without undue waste of the bodies thereof will be furnished, yet which device can be employed for the removal of the skins or peel of various kinds of vegetables and fruit, such as turnips, carrots, parsnips, radishes, cucumbers, apples, pears, and the like.

A further object of the invention is to so construct and arrange the parts of the apparatus that an electric motor of the ordinary or standard construction may be and usually is employed as one of the elements of the device, thereby obviating the expense of employing a motor of special construc tion or altering the construction of those of the standard make. I I

Still another object is to so construct and arrange the parts of the mechanism, that vibration of the motor in producing the necessary vibration or agitation in the machine will be reduced to a minimum or practically eliminated, thereby reducing the Wear and tear of the motor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the following description and explanation.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a plan view ofthe device. Fig. 2 is a front view in elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a central sectional view'taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l-lookingin the direction indicated bythe arrows.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of the upright support for the motor and frame of the device, showing a fragment of the vibratory container, and means connecting said container to the motor 'for imparting vibratory movement thereto.

Like numerals of reference refer to like parts throughout the different views of the drawing. s

The support of the device comprises a base 7 having extended upwardly from its central portion a. hollow upright 8 which may be provided with adoor-way and door 9 for closing the same, which door-way may be employed for giving access to the motor 10 which is suitably mounted in the casing or upright 8 with its shaft disposed vertically as shown.

Extended horizontally and radially from the upper portion of the upright 8 are a plurality, usually three, tubular members 10 each of which has connectedto its outer end by'a suitable coupling. 11, an upwardly and vertically extended tube 12 each of which has connected to its upper end; by means of a. suitable coupling 13 a tube 14 which are extended inwardly to a pointdirectly above the axial line of theshaft of the motor and are connected together at their adjacent or inner ends by means of a three-way coupling '15 as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings. As shown in Fig. 3, one-of the vertical or upright members 12 is extended upwardly to a greater extent than the other members 12 and that its connecting member 14 which unites it to the coupling15, .is located horizontally instead of being inclined as are the other two members 14 of the frame. I

While I have shown the members 10 12 and 14 as being tubular in each instance and prefer to so make them on account of lightness, yet, it will be understood that they can be of any suitable construction or shape.

Mounted on a suitable bracket 16 at the juncture of one of the members 12 andone of the members 14, is an electric switch 17 of the ordinary or any well known construction, from which switch conductors 18 are extended through one of the hollowtubular members 12 and one of the horizontal members 10 to the motor. The switch 17 is electrically connected through a conductor 19 with a source of electricity, not shown.- Suspendedfrom the; apex of the supporting frame or from the":coupling 15 th'ere'bf by means of a flexible connection such as a chain 20, is a vibratory container which is designated as a whole by the reference numeral 21 and consists of a cylindrical portion 22 having a bottom or closure provided with an outlet 23 whichmay be in the form of a depending spout as shown in Fig. 2 of'the drawings. This outlet is' preferably locate-d near the periphery of the cylindrical portion 22 and is employed for the purpose of discharging water and sediment which may collect in'th'e container intoa bucket 24 mounted on the base 7 of the support or to any other suitable point. The cylindricahportion 22 of the cont'ai'ne'r 2l is provided in its Wall with a door-way and door 25 therefor which can be used for the removal of thearticles held by the container I after they have been peeled or have had their skins or peeling removed.

Located within the cylindrical portion 22 of the container 21 and held in spaced relation'thereto by means of suitable studs or brackets 26 extended upwardly from the bottomof the cylindrical portion 22 and in wardly from its walls, is a reticulated or foraminat ed receptacle which is designated as a whole'by the reference numeral27 and by preference is of substantially the same shape as the'part' 22-of the container2l. As shown in the present instance, thereceptacle 27 has its cylindrical portion or walls made of reticulated'material or netting, while its bottom is made of sheet metal and provided with upwardly ektended'tubular projections 28 which are spaced apart and forni an abrasive or grating surface upon which the articles to' be peeled will rest-,- aswell as orifices through whichwater and the grated peelingsniay pass.

Mounted onthe upper end of the cylin drical portion'22-of the container 21 and secured thereto by means" of bolts 29 and nuts 30, is the lower endor rim of a conical shaped cover 31 forsaid container. The apexof the cover 31 is secured tothe lower end of the chain or flexibleconnection 20 in such a way that the container 21- may have-free movement in all directions. The cover 31 is provided with a door-way and doorsa therefor through which door-way the articles to be peeled may be passed into the container. Mounted within the con tainer 21 near its tapered upper portion is a perforated water discharging device or sprayer 33 which has communication through apipe'34 with a supply of water not shown.

Centrallymounted on the bottom of the cylindrical portion'22 of the container 2-1 is a ball bearing designated as a whole by the numeral 35 one of the races or ball re taming members 36-of which isfixed to the bottom of said container while the other race-or ball retaining member 8? is fixedly secured to the upper end of a short shaft 39 on the lower portion of which is mounted to rotate therewith a wheel or disk 40 which is'provided with an over-balance or weight 41 shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. l ixe'dlysecured to the shaft 39 below the wheel or disk 40 by means of a clamp 42 and screws e3is the upper end of a coil spring 44 which spring extends downwardly into the upper portion of the up right casing 8 of the support and is fii zedly secured at itslower end by means of a clamp 45 and screws 46 to the shaft 4? of the motor. I By this arrangement it will be obvious that in the rotation of the motor shaft rotary movement will be conveyed therefrom through th'e'spring 44 to the shaft 89 and the wheel 40 thereon, and that by reason of the fact that the wheel 40 isover-balanced or weighted, gyratory movement of thesame and its shaft will be created to the end that, the container 21 through its connection with the shaft 39 through the ball bearing will lie-rapidly or vigorously vibrated;

The operation of the device is simple and as follows:

I l otatoes or other articles to be peeled may be placed in the receptacle 27 of thevibratory container by opening the door 32 in the'cover of said container If desired, water may be sprinkled on the potatoes or articles by means of the sprayer 33, when by turning the switch'l'l', current may be supplied to the motor, thus causing the same cooperate and through the instrumentality of the transmission means betweenthe shaft 47 of the motor and the bottom of the vibratory container cause the latter to be'vibratedvery rapidly and with such force as to subject the articles held by the container to substantially constant movement vand change of positions, thus bringing all parts of each of the articles in rubbing contact with'the abrasive receptacle 2'? carried by thevibratory member or container.

In the above mentioned. operation, the skinsor peel will be removed from-thearticles in such away that \ery little waste or" the bodies of the articles will be produced. -While'l have shown in the drawings the receptacle 27' ashaving reticulated walls or walls of netting which maybe roughened in any suitable manner, and with a grate-like bottom, yet I do not desire to b'elimited in the construction of this receptacle as it may be made of any suitable abradant material and provided with perforations for the pasr sage1.o f-water and' 'sediment, said perfora tions being located'either in the wall of the receptacleor inits bottom, or in both parts The receptacle 27 is'securely held in position by the studs or brackets 26 on the con tainer, but if desired, it can be removed by disconnecting the cover 31 from the cylindrical portion 22 of the container by simply removing the bolts 29 and nuts 30 which serve to hold said parts together.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vibratory member supported for free movement in any direction, of a shaft connected to said member for independent rotation and extended therefrom, an over-balance or weight carried by said shaft, an electric motor mounted near said member with its shaft disposed axially with respect to the point of support of said member, and a flexible connection uniting said shafts.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vibratory member supported for free movement in any direction, of a shaft connected to said member for independent rotation and extended therefrom, an over-balance or weight carried by said shaft, an electric motor mounted near said member with its shaft disposed axially with respect to the point of support of said member, and a coil spring fixed at one of its ends to the motor shaft and fixed at its other end to the shaft carried by said memher.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vibratory container supported for free movement in any direction, of a shaft connected to said container for independent rotation with respect thereto and extended therefrom in alignment with the point of support of the container, an over-balanced disk on said shaft, an electric motor mounted near said container with its shaft disposed in substantial alignment with the shaft of the container, and a flexible connection uniting the adjacent ends of said shafts.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vibratory container supported for free movement in any direction, of a shaft connected to said container for independent rotation with respect thereto and extended therefrom in alignment with the point of support of the container, a disk mounted on said shaft, an over-balancing weight on said disk, an electric motor near said container with its shaft disposed in substantial alignment with the shaft of the container but spaced from the latter named shaft, and a coil spring fixed at one of its ends to the motor shaft and fixed at its other end to the adjacent end of the shaft carried by said container.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vibratory container supported for free movement in any direction, of a receptacle located in said container and having abradant means on its inner surface, a shaft connected to said container for independent rotation with respect thereto and extended therefrom at a point opposite the point of support of said container a disk mounted on said shaft, an over-balancing weight on said disk, an electric motor mounted near said container with its shaft disposed in substantial alignment with the shaft of the container but spaced from the latter named shaft, and a coil spring fixed at one of its ends to the motor shaft and fixed at its other end to the adjacent end of the shaft carried by said container.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base having a hollow upright, a frame mounted on the upper portion of said upright andcomprising a plurality of upwardly and inwardly extended members joined together t their upper ends directly above the said upright, a vibratory container flexibly supported at its upper portion on the overhanging portion of said frame, a shaft connected to said container for independent rotation with respect thereto and extended therefrom at a point directly below the point of support of the container, a disk mounted on said container, an over-balancing weight on said disk, an electric motor mounted within said upright with its shaft disposed in substantial alignment with the shaft of the container but spaced from the last named shaft, and a coil spring fixed at one of its ends to the motor shaft and at its other end to the adjacent end of the shaft carried by said container.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vibratory container supported for free movement in any direction, of abradant means located within said container, a ball bearing mounted on the bottom of the container with one of its race-ways fixed thereto, a shaft fixed at one of its ends to the other race-way of said bearing, a disk mounted on said shaft below said bearing, an over-balancing weight on said disk, an electric motor mounted near and below said container, and a coil sprin fixed at one of its ends to the motor shaft and fixed at its other end to the adjacent end of the shaft carried by the container.

ARTHUR A. PIEPJOHN, 

